July is National Vehicle Prevention Month. To help vehicle owners keep their cars safe, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is continuing its annual Vehicle Theft Prevention Campaign. In 2019 alone, nearly three quarters of a million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States, costing vehicle owners more than $6 billion. Motor vehicles include passenger cars, trucks, and multipurpose vehicles. Review these 2019 statistics on vehicle theft in the United States and NHTSA’s tips on keeping your vehicle safe.
- Passenger cars made up more than 50% of all stolen motor vehicles.
- Only 56.1% of all stolen motor vehicles were recovered.
- Of all motor vehicles stolen, 74.5% were passenger vehicles.
- There were 721,885 motor vehicles stolen.
- A motor vehicle was stolen every 43.8 seconds.
Take action! Here are ways you can help prevent motor vehicle theft.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
- Put away your valuables.
- Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
- Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.
For more information on motor vehicle theft prevention, visit NHTSA.gov/theft. For additional resources, visit the FBI’s Motor Vehicle Theft Page.
Visit TSM to get campaign materials.
~from TSM fact sheet
